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ROSEMONT, Ill. – July 27, 2013 - The Bandits took game four of the series tonight with a decisive 12-5 victory, sweeping the series for back-to-back sweeps. Monica Abbott was the winning pitcher; she improves her record to 13-1 on the season with the victory tonight. Sarah Plourde started in the circle again for the Comets, as she falls to 0-4 on the season.

Nikki Nemitz was the Bandits starting pitcher. She got into a jam early in the first inning, allowing a hit and walking two batters to load the bases for the Comets. However, she quickly rebounded recording a strikeout to end the inning and keep the Comets off the scoreboard.

Nerissa Myers came up big for the Bandits in the bottom of the third inning, blasting a two-run homerun to center field to take the lead. Her homerun scored Amber Patton who reached on a fielder’s choice. The Bandits led 2-0 going into the fourth inning.

The Comets responded in the top of the fourth inning, earning two runs of their own. Brittney Lindley and Kelsi Weseman both singled and Dorian Shaw was then walked to load the bases. Amy Hooks stepped up and delivered an RBI single that scored Lindley and Weseman to tie the game at 2-2.

The Bandits made a pitching change after the two runs, sending in Monica Abbott to finish the game. Nemitz recorded four strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.

The Comets scored one more run in the fourth inning on an illegal pitch, giving them a 3-2 edge.

The Bandits earned the run back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3. Eri Yamada doubled and was brought home by Danielle Zymkowitz’s single. Yamada was initially called out at home, but the call was reversed due to interference.

The Comets took the lead back in the top of the fifth inning. Bianca Mejia doubled and advanced to third on an illegal pitch. She was brought home by Courtney Liddle’s RBI single, to make the score 4-3 going to the bottom of the inning.

Myers was the hero of the night for the Bandits. She hit her second homerun of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Bandits a 6-4 lead. Her three run shot to center field scored Wiggins and Patton who reached on a double and single respectively.

The Comets made a pitching change after the homerun, sending in Olivia Galati for Plourde.

The Bandits offense didn’t slow down in the sixth inning, adding six more runs to their lead. Wiggins started things off with a leadoff single, giving the lineup a chance to bat. Patton then tripled, scoring Wiggins. Myers stepped up to bat and hit a single that scored Patton, giving Myers her sixth RBI of the night. Goler and Williams both followed with singles to load the bases for Yamada. Yamada didn’t disappoint, and hit a grand slam to the right field bleachers, giving the Bandits a 12-4 lead. The grand slam marks Yamada’s fifth homerun of the season.

The Comets made another pitching change during the sixth inning, sending in Taryne Mowatt for Galati.

Mejia hit a homerun off Abbott in the seventh, but it proved to be too little too late as the Bandits went on to win the game 12-5. Tonight’s victory is the Bandits ninth straight win and second series sweep of the season. Abbott recorded eight strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched, bringing her season total to 139.

The Bandits hit the road this week, travelling to play the USSSA Pride on their home turf. The series is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Sunday, July 28 at 6:05 p.m.

Since 2005, the Chicago Bandits have been members of National Pro Fastpitch. Located in the Chicagoland area, the Bandits provide an opportunity for female fastpitch players to further their careers at a professional level. The roster has included such names as Jennie Finch, Stacy May and Monica Abbott. The two-time NPF Champions play at The Ballpark at Rosemont, the only stadium in the country built for a women’s professional team.

About National Pro Fastpitch

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball and has been since 2002.